She took a piece of the cheese and passed it to him. “I have cooked for my father and brother a very long time.”
“Lovely and a good cook. What else do I not ken about ye?”
Thomasina swallowed her cheese and placed her hands on her lap. “That I feel very special to have ye as my husband.”
Her declaration surprised him. A fierce need to pleasure her as his wife overtook him. No one had ever meant this much to him. He struggled to keep his breathing even, his appetite vanished, and he watched intently as she finished her food. He offered her the mead. “Just a little?”
She tipped her head and accepted it. He declined when she offered it back. He dare not allow himself to relax. He needed to be in complete control when he bedded her. Rushing her to see to his own need was not the way he wanted it to be with her. Ever.
When Sean stood beside her and extended his hand, Thomasina’s heart beat faster. It was difficult to breathe. She accepted his hand and stood, fighting to appear composed despite the anxiety expanding in her gut. With a finger under her chin, he tipped her head up so he could see into her eyes.
“I want to make love to ye, Thomasina.”
She swallowed then nodded, pressing her lips together before speaking. “Yea. Of course. We’re husband and wife.”
He smiled. A kind, warm smile that told her beyond any doubt that he understood how she was feeling.
“Apologies. I’m such a milksop.”
Sean placed a finger to her lips to stop her. “Nae. Do not speak poorly of yerself. Not with me.” He moved in closer, gently pulling her length against him. “I believe ye’re perfect just the way ye are. Dunna be telling me otherwise.”
He smelled of the outdoors. A calming scent. She took a slow breath. With her eyes closed, she imagined their bodies as they touched. His strong arms wrapping lightly around her. She snuggled in closer and they tightened in response. His solid chest beneath her cheek, the light smattering of hair she would enjoy caressing hidden beneath. His solid hips against her own, the hardened tarse against her belly, the solid legs pressing into her.
When he slipped his hand along her back, he turned her in his arms and pulled her bottom solidly against his manhood. He dipped his head to kiss the side of her head. “Ye will have pleasure as my wife.”
A shiver of anticipation washed over her. It settled somewhere between her thighs. “I ken.”
He turned her again and pulled back to look at her. “And I heard ye were not so worldly as all that.”
She smiled, her tension easing a bit. “Yea. I talk a good talk.”
When she looked up to see into his eyes, he closed the distance to her mouth. A feather light kiss stirred her passion, overwhelming her fear. She parted her lips, allowing his tongue access. His kiss became more impassioned and she matched him as he stoked the spark of desire into a flame.
His strong hands dipped again to her bottom, cupping her cheeks, pulling her up against him. “Have I told ye how much I admire yer lovely arse?”
Thomasina tried not to laugh. “Nae. Nae ye have not.”
“Ye find humor in my discomfort?”
She sobered quickly. “I dunna understand.”
“This fine arse,” he grasped her bottom as he spoke, “filled my dreams even before I caught ye in the woods, baring yer bottom.”
Thomasina gasped and started to pull away but he held her firm.
“Ye’ve a fine arse.” He nibbled at her neck. “I dinna mean to shame ye. Never that.”
“So ye did see my naked bottom?”
He groaned, pulling her in tight against him leaving no doubt what he was feeling. “Yea. It damned near killed me and seeing ye in those trews, outlining each rounded cheek.”
A guttural sound emanated from deep inside him and he stilled. His breathing labored. He took a deep breath then pulled away to sit on the bench behind him, his hands on his legs.
“I lusted after ye, Thomasina. Something fierce.” He licked his lips. His eyes roaming over her. As before he paused at her breasts and looked left then right.
“Tell me then how did ye ken I was a lass?”
He looked up at her and it seemed to take a moment for his answer. “I knew ye were a woman when I touched yer full breast.”
